Does Virtual Reality Improve Symptom Burden in Dialysis Patients?

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Virtual Reality; Dialysis

• Registration Number: NCT06250582
• Lead Sponsor: David Blum

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the use of virtual reality therapy in dialysis patients. The main question it aims to answer is: Does virtual reality improve symptom burden in dialysis patients and improve their mental wellbeing? Over a period of one month, one virtual reality therapy session of 30 minutes will be performed during each regular hemodialysis session. Since we will conduct a monocentric, crossover randomized controlled trial, the participants act as their own control group.

Detailed Description

Hemodialysis is a lifesaving therapy for patients with end stage kidney disease but comes with a high burden of physical and emotional symptoms that lower quality of life in dialysis patients. Dialysis mediated complications such as drops in blood pressure, nausea and muscle cramps results in refusal and a negative perception of this treatment. In dialysis patients, treatment-related burden results in deterioration in health related quality of life. During the past few years, Virtual reality (VR) has become more affordable and found its way into households as entertainment electronics but stepwise also into medicine. VR enables the user to view, interact and be immersed in a multisensory 3D virtual world. The aim of the current study is to reduce dialysis-related burden of symptoms by using virtual reality therapy during regular dialysis sessions and thereby improve quality of life among dialysis patients.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-12-20
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-01-31
• Study First Posted: 2024-02-09
• Study Start: 2024-12-02
• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-23
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-27
• Primary Completion: 2025-07-31
• Study Completion: 2025-12-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• Older than 18 years;
• in treatment with thrice-weekly hemodialysis sessions;
• regular hemodialysis duration of three to five hours
• having no visual impairment
• having no acoustic deficit
• patient must be capable of speaking and understanding German or English
• no signs of cognitive impairment
• patient oriented in time and space
• being able to give informed consent as documented by signature

Exclusion Criteria

• diagnosis of epilepsy
• current pregnancy

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Reduction of symptom burden of dialysis patients and improvement of their mental wellbeing	10 weeks	questionnaire

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
To assess the acceptability and appropriateness of using VRT during hemodialysis from the perspectives of patients	10 weeks	questionnaire
To assess the acceptability and appropriateness of using VRT during hemodialysis from the perspectives of clinical staff	10 weeks	questionnaire
Evaluation of the effects of virtual reality therapy during hemodialysis on heart rate	10 weeks	Heart rate (beats per minute)
To test the internal consistency of the ESAS-r: Renal Score	10 weeks	Cronbach's alpha
Evaluation of the effects of virtual reality therapy during hemodialysis on blood pressure	10 weeks	Blood pressure (mm Hg)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University Hospital Zurich; 🇨🇭 Zürich, ZH, Switzerland